Midland Region Celebrates International Midwives Day with Success
Midland midwives have extra reason to celebrate International Midwives Day today (5 May), with a new midwifery emergency
refresher course they have designed being approved for national roll-out.
A group of maternity educators, a subgroup of the Midland Maternity Action Group, designed the course together and it
was recently approved by the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.
The course is being rolled out regionally and then shared nationwide.
“The course covers a neonatal and adult resuscitation refresher as well as four midwifery emergency scenarios; all with
a primary focus,” said Waikato District Health Board midwifery educator Pip Wright.
“What that means is managing the given emergency with no other ‘assistance’ other than possibly another midwife.
“This will ensure that all midwives; no matter where they work, will keep their midwifery skills current. These skills
support dealing with obstetric and neonatal emergencies in a primary setting; for example home birthing and birthing
units.”
She said the Midland maternity educators share a vision to design courses that are transferrable across the Midland
Region.
“This will not only enable all midwives to receive the same training wherever they are, but also means sustainable and
robust ongoing education programmes for the region.”
One of the maternity educators, Gisborne midwife Kellie McClutchie attended the first course, and said it came at a good
time for her, as she had to apply her knowledge to practice when dealing with an emergency situation.
“I felt I had the confidence I needed in the birth, which led to an undiagnosed pre-term breech birth,” she said.
“Even though I was very scared and shocked that a bottom was coming first, I felt confident in birthing this breech baby
vaginally as I had just completed all my pre-readings and online learning with great video clips to watch.
“Mum and baby are both doing really well. I shared my experience with my colleagues on the course and at the weekly
multi-disciplinary team meeting we hold.”
ENDS